Publication Items

Database Helps Track PFAS Drinking Water Contamination [1]

Millions of people across the United States are believed to be drinking PFAS-contaminated water. And a growing database could prove an invaluable resource for environmental journalists trying to get a handle on that public health risk. Our latest biweekly Reporter’s Toolbox, recently refocused on data journalism tools and techniques, explains how to tap the expanding PFAS data.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [4]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [9]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [13]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [14]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Database Helps Track PFAS Drinking Water Contamination [1]
Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [17]

A lengthy investigation yielded one small-market environmental reporting team an award-winning project examining the adequacy of a toxic solvent cleanup in a polluted community. Our latest “Inside Story” talks with a team member behind the project to learn about the challenges, the lessons learned and advice for others tracking similar problems.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Environmental Health [19]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [9]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [17]
Closure of Civilian Conservation Centers Ignites Controversy [20]

A decades-old environmental jobs program that provided work for thousands of disadvantaged young people across more than a dozen states has been hit with one of the largest federal downsizings in a decade. Find out how the closing of some Civilian Conservation Centers may be a story near you, from the latest TipSheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [22]
Environmental Politics [23]
Forests [24]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [7]
Natural Resources [25]
People & Population [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [13]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [26]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [14]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [27]
Northwest (OR WA) [28]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [29]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Closure of Civilian Conservation Centers Ignites Controversy [20]
FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [30]

A revamped Reporter’s Toolbox begins today with a new focus on data resources for environmental journalists. The now biweekly column starts with a look at a massive database designed for federal land managers that reporters can use to scan dozens of pollution data sets about air quality and more in parks, forests and other federal lands.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [31]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [19]
Forests [24]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [9]
Pollution [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [30]
“Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease” [32]

Marine ecologist Drew Harvell’s new book makes the case that the world’s oceans are sick and that few are paying enough attention. According to our latest BookShelf review, her “Ocean Outbreak” takes readers on a panoramic journey through the deep, while equipping reporters to better report problems that go well beyond climate change.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [34]
Environmental Health [19]
Fish & Fisheries [35]
Natural Resources [25]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [37]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about “Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease” [32]
For Students, SEJ Conference Can Make the Grade [38]

Not only is the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual gathering a great way for student journalists to get propelled into the profession, argues our most recent EJ Academy column. It’s also how SEJ itself can invest in its future. The case for creative ways to bring newbies to the next conference.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [37]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about For Students, SEJ Conference Can Make the Grade [38]
Urban Farming a Fertile Bed for Crop of Local Stories [40]

The rise of the modern environmental and food movements has shifted urban farming into high gear. For environmental journalists, that could yield a bumper crop of local stories. The latest TipSheet has more, along with questions to ask, story angles to follow and reporting resources to tap.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [41]
Agriculture [42]
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [4]
Food [43]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [37]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Urban Farming a Fertile Bed for Crop of Local Stories [40]
SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More [44]

SEJ joined with several dozen other journalism groups to support the right to film police activity in a public place, and bills to block information of importance to environmental reporters failed in Louisiana, California and Iowa, but a Colorado paper was blocked from covering a wild horse roundup. All that in this month’s WatchDog Tipsheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [41]
Agriculture [42]
Air [31]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [34]
Economy & Business [22]
Energy & Fuel [46]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [10]
Science [47]
Wildlife [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [48]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [26]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [14]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [27]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [29]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More [44]
Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [49]

Toxic chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms can be found in some fresh-caught fish. And that means local stories for environmental journalists, who can pick up on problems through federal and state fish advisories. The latest TipSheet explains the health impacts and how they’re regulated, plus questions to ask and story ideas, including an environmental justice angle.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [19]
Fish & Fisheries [35]
Food [43]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [25]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [49]
From Colorado Contrasts to SEJ Shifts [50]

The Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual conference in Colorado this fall will bring attendees to a state rich in contrasts and storytelling fodder. At the same time, SEJ itself is readying for seismic shifts. SEJ President Bobby Magill shares firsthand knowledge of the Square State, plus a look into changes for the organization, in his latest quarterly report.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [51]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [22]
Energy & Fuel [46]
Environmental Politics [23]
Forests [24]
Journalism & Media [7]
Natural Resources [25]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [52]
People & Population [9]
Planning & Growth [53]
Transportation [54]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [27]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about From Colorado Contrasts to SEJ Shifts [50]

Pages